Starting with the right soil will prevent big headaches down the road. Check the texture of your soil, add fertilizer and plan before you start to plant!

Look for dark soil that's loose but not too dry or sandy.

There are three main types of soil -- sandy, clay and the "ideal" organic soil. Color and consistency are the telltale signs.

Once you find the right soil, choose a fertilizer -- preferably a slow time-released version that slowly feeds your plants needed nutrients over the course of the season.

Before you plant, make sure that any edible plants stay far from your decorative flowers and shrubs that you may want to treat chemically. Some chemical treatments soak into the soil and will ruin your edible plants.

To find out more about soil and fertilizer choice, click the play icon in the video window to the right.

MORE: iVillage Gardening Page